f  f  A 


n,,u.,,mnmiu,lltl 


Her  eyes  brightened  as  they  fell  upon  a  glass  of  rosy  laurel  and  delicate 
maidenhair  fern."  —  FRONTISPIECE. 


MOUNTAIN-K& 

AND 

MAIDENHAIR 


BY 


LOUISA   M.  ALCOTT 

AUTHOR    OK    "  LITTLE     MEN,"    "LITTLE    WOMEN,"    "MAY 
FLOWEKS,"    "  1'01'PIKS   AND    WHEAT,"    ETC. 


Ellustratel) 


BOSTON 
LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND   COMPANY 


Copyright,  1SS7, 
BY  LOUISA  M.  ALCOTT. 

Copyright,  IMS, 
BY  JOHN  S.  1*.  ALCOTT. 


JoHN    WlLSON    AN1>    SoN,    (    \\n:l:llx.l  .    U.S   A. 


Stack 
Annex 

fs 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND 
MAIDENHAIR 

"•HERE'S  your  breakfast,  miss.  I  hope  it's 
right.  Your  mother  showed  me  how  to  fix  it, 
and  said  I  'd  find  a  cup  up  here." 

"Take  that  blue  one.  I  have  not  much  ap 
petite,  and  can't  eat  if  things  are  not  nice  and 
pretty.  I  like  the  flowers.  I  've  been  longing 
for  some  ever  since  I  saw  them  last  night." 

The  first  speaker  was  a  red-haired,  freckled- 
faced  girl,  in  a  brown  calico  dress  and  white 
apron,  with  a  tray  in  her  hands  and  an  air  of 
timid  hospitality  in  her  manner;  the  second  a 
pale,  pretty  creature,  in  a  white  wrapper  and 
blue  net,  sitting  in  a  large  chair,  looking  about 
her  with  the  languid  interest  of  an  invalid  in  a 
new  place.  Her  eyes  brightened  as  they  fell 
upon  a  glass  of  rosy  laurel  and  delicate  maiden 
hair  fern  that  stood  among  the  toast  and  eggs, 
strawberries  and  cream,  on  the  tray. 

"  Our  laurel  is  jest  in  blow,  and  I  'm  real  glad 
you  come  in  time  to  see  it.  I  '11  bring  you  a  lot, 
as  soon  's  ever  I  get  time  to  go  for  it.'' 


2      MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

As  she  spoke,  the  plain  girl  replaced  the  ugly 
crockery  cup  and  saucer  with  the  pretty  china 
ones  pointed  out  to  her,  arranged  the  dishes,  and 
waited  to  see  if  anything  else  was  needed. 

"  What  is  your  name,  please  ?  "  asked  the 
pretty  girl,  refreshing  herself  with  a  draught  of 
new  milk. 

"  Rebecca.  Mother  thought  I  'd  better  wait 
on  you;  the  little  girls  are  so  noisy  and  apt  to 
forget.  Would  n't  you  like  a  [tiller  to  your  back  ? 
you  look  so  kind  of  feeble  seems  as  if  you  wanted 
to  l>e  propped  up  a  mite." 

There  was  so  much  compassion  and  good-will 
in  the  face  and  voice,  that  Emily  accepted  the 
offer,  and  let  Rel)ecca  arrange  a  cushion  behind 
her;  then,  while  the  OIK;  ate  daintily,  and  the 
other  stirred  about  an  inner  room,  the  talk  went 
on,  —  for  two  girls  are  seldom  long  silent  when 
together. 

"  I  think  the  air  is  going  to  suit  me,  for  I 
slept  all  night  and  never  woke  till  Mamma  had 
been  up  ever  so  long  and  got  things  all  nicely 
settled,"  said  Emily,  graciously,  when  the  fresh 
strawberries  had  been  enjoyed,  and  the  bread  and 
butter  Ix^gan  to  vanish. 

"  I  'in  real  glad  yon  like  it :  most  folks  do,  if 
they  don't  mind  it  l>eing  plain  and  quiet  up  here. 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR      3 

It 's  gayer  down  at  the  hotel,  but  the  air  ain't 
half  so  good,  and  delicate  folks  generally  like  our 
old  place  best,"  answered  Becky,  as  she  tossed 
over  a  mattress  and  shook  out  the  sheets  with 
a  brisk,  capable  air  pleasant  to  see. 

"  I  wanted  to  go  to  the  hotel,  but  the  doctor 
said  it  would  be  too  noisy  for  me,  so  Mamma 
was  glad  to  find  rooms  here.  I  did  n't  think  a 
farm-house  could  be  so  pleasant.  That  view  is 
perfectly  splendid ! "  and  Emily  sat  up  to  gaze 
delightedly  out  of  the  window,  below  which 
spread  the  wide  intervale,  through  which  the 
river  ran  with  hay-fields  on  either  side,  while 
along  the  green  slopes  of  the  hills  lay  farm-houses 
with  garden  plots,  and  big  barns  waiting  for  the 
harvest ;  and  beyond,  the  rocky,  wooded  pastures 
dotted  with  cattle  and  musical  with  cow-bells, 
brooks,  and  birds. 

A  balmy  wind  kissed  a  little  color  into  the 
pale  cheeks,  the  listless  eyes  brightened  as  they 
looked,  and  the  fretful  lines  vanished  from  lips 
that  smiled  involuntarily  at  the  sweet  welcome 
Nature  gave  the  city  child  come  to  rest  and  play 
and  grow  gay  and  rosy  in  her  green  lap. 

Becky  watched  her  with  interest,  and  was 
glad  to  see  how  soon  the  new-comer  felt  the  charm 
of  the  place,  for  the  girl  loved  her  mountain 


4      MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AXD  MAIHKNIIAIR 

homo,    and    thought    the   old    farm-house    the 
loveliest  spot  in  the  world. 

"  When  you  get  stronger  I  can  show  you  lots 
of  nice  views  round  here.  There  "s  a  woodsy 
place  behind  the  house  that 's  just  lovely.  Down 
by  the  laurel  bushes  is  my  favorite  spot,  and 
among  the  rocks  is  a  cave  where  I  keep  things 
handy  when  I  get  a  resting-spell  now  and  then, 
and  want  to  be  quiet.  Can't  get  much  at  home, 
when  there  's  boarders  and  five  children  round  in 
vacation  time." 

Becky  laughed  as  she  spoke,  and  there  was  a 
sweet  motherly  look  in  her  plain  face,  as  she 
glanced  at  the  three  little  red  heads  bobbing 
about  the  door-yard  below,  where  hens  cackled, 
a  pet  lamb  fed,  and  the  old  white  dog  lay  blink 
ing  in  the  sun. 

"  I  like  children  :  we  have  none  at  home,  and 
Mamma  makes  such  a  baby  of  me  I  'm  almost 
ashamed  sometimes.  I  want  her  to  have  a  good 
rest  now,  for  she  has  taken  care  of  me  all  winter 
and  needs  it.  Von  shall  be  my  nurse,  if  I  need 
one;  but  I  hope  to  l>c  so  well  soon  that  I  can 
see  to  myself.  It 's  so  tiresome  to  be  ill !  "  and 
Emily  sighed  as  she  leaned  hick  among  her 
pillows,  with  a  glance  at  the  little  glass  which 
showed  her  a  thin  face  and  shorn  head. 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AND  MAIDENHAIR      5 

"  It  must  be  !  I  never  was  sick,  but  I  have 
taken  care  of  sick  folks,  and  have  a  sight  of 
sympathy  for  'em.  Mother  says  I  make  a  pretty 
good  nurse,  being  strong  and  quiet,"  answered 
Becky,  plumping  up  pillows  and  folding  towels 
witli  a  gentle  despatch  which  was  very  grateful 
to  the  invalid,  who  had  dreaded  a  noisy,  awkward 
serving-maid. 

"  Never  ill !  how  nice  that  must  be  !  I  'm 
always  having  colds  and  headaches,  and  fusses 
of  some  kind.  What  do  you  do  to  keep 
well,  Rebecca  ? "  asked  Emily,  watching  her 
witli  interest,  as  she  came  in  to  remove  the 
tray. 

"  Nothing  but  work ;  I  have  n't  time  to  be 
sick,  and  when  I  'm  tuckered  out,  I  go  and  rest 
over  yonder.  Then  I  'm  all  right,  and  buckle 
to  again,  as  smart  as  ever ;  "  and  every  freckle 
in  Becky's  rosy  face  seemed  to  shine  with 
cheerful  strength  and  courage. 

"  I  'in  '  tuckered  out '  doing  nothing,"  said 
Kmily,  amused  with  the  new  expression,  and 
eager  to  try  a  remedy  which  showed  such  fine 
results  in  this  case.  "  I  shall  visit  your  pet 
places  and  do  a  little  work  as  soon  as  I  am  able, 
and  see  if  it  won't  set  me  up.  Now  I  can  only 
dawdle,  doze,  and  read  a  little.  Will  you  plefise 


6      MOCNTAIN-LAUKEL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

put  those  books  here  on  the  table  ?  I  shall  want 
them  by-and-by." 

Emily  pointed  to  a  pile  of  blue  and  gold  vol 
umes  lying  on  a  trunk,  and  Becky  dusted  her 
hands  as  she  took  them  up  with  an  air  of  rever 
ence,  for  she  read  on  the  backs  of  the  volumes 
names  which  made  her  eyes  sparkle. 

"  Do  you  care  for  poetry  ?  "  asked  Emily,  sur 
prised  at  the  girl's  look  and  manner. 

"  Guess  1  do !  don't  get  much  except  the 
pieces  I  cut  out  of  papers,  but  I  love  'em,  and 
stick  'em  in  an  old  ledger,  and  keep  it  down 
in  my  cubby  among  the  rocks.  I  do  love  that 
man's  pieces.  They  seem  to  go  right  to  the 
spot  somehow ;  "  and  Becky  smiled  at  the  name 
of  Whittier  as  if  the  sweetest  of  our  poets  was 
a  dear  old  friend  of  hers. 

"  I  like  Tennyson  better.  Do  you  know 
him?"  asked  Emily,  with  a  superior  air,  for 
the  idea  of  this  farmer's  daughter  knowing 
anything  about  poetry  amused  her. 

"Oh  yes,  I've  got  a  numt)cr  of  his  pieces  in 
my  book,  and  I'm  fond  of  'em.  But  this  man 
makes  things  so  kind  of  true  and  natural  I  feel 
at  home  with  him.  And  this  one  I  've  longed 
to  read,  though  I  guess  I  can't  understand 
much  of  it.  His  '  Bumble  Bee  '  was  just  lovely  ; 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  ANf>  MAIDENHAIR      1 

with  the  grass  and  columbines  and  the  yellow 
breeches  of  the  bee.  I  'in  never  tired  of  that;  " 
and  Becky's  face  woke  up  into  something  like 
beauty  as  she  glanced  hungrily  at  the  Emerson 
while  she  dusted  the  delicate  cover  that  hid  the 
treasures  she  coveted. 

"  I  don't  care  much  for  him,  but  Mamma 
does.  I  like  romantic  poems,  and  ballads,  and 
songs ;  don't  like  descriptions  of  clouds,  and 
fields,  and  bees,  and  farmers,"  said  Emily, 
showing  plainly  that  even  Emerson's  simplest 
poems  were  far  above  her  comprehension  as 
yet,  because  she  loved  sentiment  more  than 
Nature. 

"  I  do,  because  I  know  'em  better  than  love 
and  the  romantic  stuff  most  poetry  tells  about. 
But  I  don't  pretend  to  judge,  I  'm  glad  of  any 
thing  I  can  get.  Now  if  you  don't  want  me  I  '11 
pick  ii})  my  dishes  and  go  to  work." 

With  that  Becky  went  away,  leaving  Emily 
to  rest  and  dream  with  her  eyes  on  the  landscape 
which  was  giving  her  better  poetry  than  any  her 
books  held.  She  told  her  mother  about  the  odd 
girl,  and  was  sure  she  would  be  amusing  if  she 
did  not  forget  her  place  and  try  to  be  friends. 

u  She  is  a  good  creature,  my  dear,  her  mother's 
main  stay,  and  works  beyond  her  strength,  I  am 


8      MOrSTAIX-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

sure.  He  kind  to  the  poor  girl,  and  put  a  little 
pleasure  into  her  life  if  you  can,"  answered  Mrs. 
Spenser,  as  she  moved  about,  settling  comforts 
and  luxuries  for  her  invalid. 

"  I  shall  have  to  talk  to  her,  as  there  is  no  other 
person  of  my  age  in  the  house.  How  are  the 
school  manns?  shall  you  get  on  \\\\\\  them, 
Mamma  ?  It  will  be  so  lonely  here  for  us  both, 
if  we  don't  make  friends  with  some  one." 

"  Most  intelligent  and  amiable  women  all  three, 
and  we  shall  have  pleasant  times  together,  I  am 
sure.  You  may  safely  cultivate  Becky  ;  Mrs. 
Taylor  told  me  she  was  a  remarkably  bright  girl, 
though  she  may  not  look  it." 

"  Well,  I  '11  see.  Hut  I  do  hate  freckles  and 
big  red  hands,  and  round  shoulders.  She  can't 
help  it,  I  suppose,  but  ugly  things  fret  me." 

"  Kememl)er  that  she  has  no  time  to  be  pretty, 
and  be  glad  she  is  so  neat  and  willing.  Shall 
we  read,  dear  ?  I  'm  ready  now." 

Emily  consented,  and  listened  for  an  hour  or 
two  while  the  pleasant  voice  Inside  her  conjured 
away  all  her  vapors  with  some  of  Mrs.  Kwing's 
charming  tales. 

"  The  grass  is  dry  now,  and  I  want  to  stroll 
on  that  green  lawn  Ix'fore  lunch.  You  rest, 
Mamma  dear,  and  let  me  make  discoveries  all 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR      9 

alone,"  proposed  Emily,  when  the  sun  shone 
warmly,  and  the  instinct  of  all  young  creatures 
for  air  and  motion  called  her  out. 

So,  with  her  hat  and  wrap,  and  book  and  par 
asol,  she  set  forth  to  explore  the  new  land  in 
which  she  found  herself. 

Down  the  wide,  creaking  stairs  and  out  upon 
the  door-stone  she  went,  pausing  there  for  a 
moment  to  decide  where  first  to  go.  The  sound 
of  some  one  singing  in  the  rear  of  the  house  led 
her  in  that  direction,  and  turning  the  comer  she 
made  her  first  pleasant  discovery.  A  hill  rose 
steeply  behind  the  farm-house,  and  leaning  from 
the  bank  was  an  old  apple-tree,  shading  a  spring 
that  trickled  out  from  the  rocks  and  dropped 
into  a  mossy  trough  below.  Up  the  tree  had 
grown  a  wild  grape-vine,  making  a  green  can 
opy  over  the  great  log  which  served  as  a  seat, 
and  some  one  had  planted  maidenhair  ferns 
about  both  seat  and  spring  to  flourish  beauti 
fully  in  the  damp,  shady  spot. 

"  Oh,  how  pretty !  1 11  go  and  sit  there.  It 
looks  clean,  and  I  can  see  what  is  going  on  in 
that  big  kitchen,  and  hear  the  singing.  I  sup 
pose  it's  Becky's  little  sisters  by  the  racket." 

Emily  established  herself  on  the  lichen-cov 
ered  log  with  her  feet  upon  a  stone,  and  sat 


10       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

enjoying  the  musical  tinkle  of  the  water,  with 
her  eyes  on  the  delicate  ferns  stirring  in  the 
wind,  and  the  lively  jingle  of  the  multiplication- 
table  chanted  by  childish  voices  in  her  ear. 

Presently  two  little  girls  with  a  great  pun 
of  beans  came  to  do  their  work  on  the  back 
door-step,  a  third  was  seen  washing  dishes  at  a 
window,  and  Becky's  brown-spotted  gown  flew 
about  the  kitchen  as  if  a  very  energetic  girl 
wore  it.  A  woman's  voice  was  heard  giving 
directions,  as  the  speaker  was  evidently  picking 
chickens  somewhere  out  of  sight. 

A  little  of  the  talk  reached  Emily  and  both 
amused  and  annoyed  her,  for  it  proved  that 
the  country  people  were  not  as  stupid  as  they 
looked. 

"Oh,  well,  we  mustn't  mind  if  she  in  no 
tional  and  kind  of  wearing;  she's  been  sick, 
and  it  will  take  time  to  get  rid  of  her  fretty 
ways.  Jest  be  pleasant,  and  take  no  notice, 
and  that  nice  mother  of  hers  will  make  it  all 
right,"  said  the  woman's  voice. 

"  How  anylxxly  with  every  mortal  thing  to  be 
happy  with  can  l>e  out-of-sorts  passes  me.  She 
fussed  alxmt  every  piller,  chair,  trunk,  and  mite 
of  food  last  night,  and  kept  that  poor  tired 
lady  trotting  till  I  was  provoked.  She's  right 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AND  MAIDENHAIR       11 

pleasant  this  morning  though,  and  as  pretty  as 
a  picture  in  her  ruffled  gown  and  that  blue  thing 
on  her  head,"  answered  Becky  from  the  pantry, 
as  she  rattled  out  the  pie-board,  little  dreaming 
v  ho  sat  hidden  behind  the  grape-vine  festoons 
that  veiled  the  corner  by  the  spring. 

"  Well,  she  's  got  redder  hair  'n'  we  have,  so 
she  need  n't  be  so  grand  and  try  to  hide  it  with 
blue  nets,"  added  one  little  voice. 

"  Yes,  and  it 's  ever  so  much  shorter  'n'  ours, 
and  curls  all  over  her  head  like  Daisy's  wool. 
I  should  think  such  a  big  girl  would  feel  real 
ashamed  without  no  braids,"  said  the  other  child, 
proudly  surveying  the  tawny  mane  that  hung 
over  her  shoulders,  —  for  like  most  red-haired 
people  all  the  children  were  blessed  with  luxu 
riant  crops  of  every  shade  from  golden  auburn 
to  regular  carrots. 

"I  think  it's  lovely.  Suppose  it  had  to  be 
cut  off  when  she  had  the  fever.  Wish  I  could 
get  rid  of  my  mop,  it's  such  a  bother ;"  and 
Becky  was  seen  tying  a  clean  towel  over  the 
great  knot  that  made  her  head  look  very  like 
a  copper  kettle. 

"Now  fly  round,  deary,  and  get  them  pies 
ready.  I  '11  have  these  fowls  on  in  a  minute, 
and  then  go  to  my  butter.  You  run  off  and  see 


12       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND   MAIDENHAIR 

if  you  can't  find  some  wild  strawberries  for  the 
poor  girl,  soon  's  ever  you  are  through  witli  them 
l>eans,  children.  We  must  kind  of  pamper  her 
up  for  a  spell  till  her  appetite  comes  back,"  said 
the  mother. 

Here  the  chat  ended,  and  soon  the  little  girls 
were  gone,  leaving  Becky  alone  rolling  out  pie 
crust  before  the  pantry  window.  As  she  worked 
her  lips  moved,  and  Emily,  still  peeping  through 
the  leaves,  wondered  what  she  was  saying,  for 
a  low  murmur  rose  and  fell,  emphasized  now 
and  then  with  a  thump  of  the  rolling-pin. 

"  I  mean  to  go  and  find  out.  If  I  stand  on 
that  wash-bench  I  can  look  in  and  see  her  work. 
I  '11  show  them  all  that  I'm  not  '  fussy,'  and  can 
be  '  right  pleasant '  if  I  like." 

With  this  wise  resolution  Emily  went  down 
the  little  path,  and  after  pausing  to  examine  the 
churn  set  out  to  dry,  and  the  row  of  puns  shin 
ing  on  a  neighboring  shelf,  made  her  way  to  the 
window,  mounted  the  bench  while  Becky's  back 
was  turned,  and  pushing  away  the  morning-glory 
vines  and  scarlet  beans  that  ran  up  on  either 
side  i>eeped  in  with  such  a  smiling  face  that  the 
crossest  cook  could  not  have  frowned  on  her  as 
an  intruder. 

"  May  I  see  you  work  ?     I  can't  eat  pies,  but 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       13 

I  like  to  watch  people  make  them.  Do  you 
mind?" 

"  Not  a  bit.  I  'd  ask  you  to  come  in,  but  it 's 
dreadful  hot  here,  and  not  much  room,"  answered 
Becky,  crimping  round  the  pastry  before  she 
poured  in  the  custard.  "  I  'in  going  to  make 
a  nice  little  pudding  for  you ;  your  mother  said 
you  liked  'em  ;  or  would  you  rather  have  whipped 
cream  with  a  mite  of  jelly  in  it  ?  "  asked  Becky, 
anxious  to  suit  her  new  boarder. 

"  Whichever  is  easiest  to  make.  I  don't  care 
what  I  eat.  Do  tell  me  what  you  were  saying. 
It  sounded  like  poetry,"  said  Emily,  leaning  both 
elbows  on  the  wide  ledge  with  a  pale  pink 
morning-glory  kissing  her  cheek,  and  a  savory 
odor  reaching  her  nose. 

"  Oh,  I  was  mumbling  some  verses.  I  often 
do  when  I  work,  it  sort  of  helps  me  along ;  but 
it  must  sound  dreadful  silly,"  and  Becky  blushed 
as  if  caught  in  some  serious  fault. 

"  I  do  it,  and  it 's  a  great  comfort  when  I  lie 
awake.  I  should  think  you  would  want  some 
thing  to  help  you  along,  you  work  so  hard.  Do 
you  like  it,  Becky  ?  " 

The  familiar  name,  the  kind  tone,  made  the 
plain  face  brighten  with  pleasure  as  its  owner 
said,  while  she  carefully  filled  a  pretty  bowl  with 


14       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND    MAIDENHAIR 

a  golden  mixture  rich  with  fresh  eggs  and  coun 
try  milk,  — 

"No,  I  don't,  but  I  ought  to.  Mother  isn't 
as  strong  as  she  used  to  be,  and  there  's  a  sight 
to  do,  and  the  children  to  be  brought  up,  and 
the  mortgage  to  be  paid  off ;  so  if  /  don't  fly 
round,  who  will?  We  are  doing  real  well  now, 
for  Mr.  Walker  manages  the  farm  and  gives  us 
our  share,  so  our  living  is  all  right;  then  boarders 
in  summer  and  my  school  in  winter  help  a  deal, 
and  every  year  the  boys  can  do  more,  so  I  \\  be 
a  real  sinner  to  complain  if  I  do  have  to  step 
lively  all  day." 

Becky  smiled  as  she  spoke,  and  straightened 
her  bent  shoulders  as  if  settling  her  burden  for 
another  trudge  along  the  path  of  duty. 

"  Do  you  keep  school  ?  Why,  how  old  are 
you,  Becky  ? "  asked  Emily,  much  impressed 
by  this  new  discovery. 

"  I  'in  eighteen.  I  took  the  place  of  a  teacher 
who  got  sick  last  fall,  and  I  kept  school  all  win 
ter.  Folks  seemed  to  like  me,  and  I  'in  going  to 
have  the  same  place  this  year.  I  'in  so  glad,  for 
I  need  n't  go  away,  and  the  pay  is  pretty  good, 
as  the  school  is  large  and  the  children  do  well. 
You  can  see  the  school-house  down  the  valley, 
that  red  brick  one  where  the  roads  meet ; "  and 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       15 

Becky  pointed  a  floury  finger,  with  an  air  of 
pride  that  was  pleasant  to  see. 

Emily  glanced  at  the  little  red  house  where 
the  sun  shone  hotly  in  summer,  and  all  the  winds 
of  heaven  must  rage  wildly  in  winter  time,  for 
it  stood,  as  country  schools  usually  do,  in  the 
barest,  most  uninviting  spot  for  miles  around. 

"  Is  n't  it  awful  down  there  in  winter?  "she 
asked,  with  a  sin' ver  at  the  idea  of  spending  days 
shut  up  in  that  forlorn  place,  with  a  crowd  of 
rough  country  children. 

"  Pretty  cold,  but  we  have  plenty  of  wood, 
and  we  are  used  to  snow  and  gales  up  here. 
We  often  coast  down,  the  whole  lot  of  us,  and 
that  is  great  fun.  We  take  our  dinners  and 
have  games  noon-spells,  and  so  we  get  on  first 
rate ;  some  of  my  boys  are  big  fellows,  older 
than  I  am,  and  they  clear  the  roads  and  make 
the  fire  and  look  after  us,  and  we  are  real  happy 
together." 

Emily  found  it  so  impossible  to  imagine  hap 
piness  under  such  circumstances  that  she  changed 
the  subject  by  asking  in  a  tone  which  had  un 
consciously  grown  more  respectful  since  this 
last  revelation  of  liecky's  abilities,  — 

"  If  you  do  so  well  here,  why  don't  you  try 
for  a  larger  school  in  a  better  place  ? " 


1C       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND   MAIDENHAIR 

"  Oh,  I  could  n't  leave  mother  yet ;  I  hope  to 
some  day,  when  the  girls  are  older,  and  the  boys 
able  to  get  on  alone.  But  I  can't  go  now,  for 
there  's  a  sight  of  things  to  do,  and  mother  is 
always  laid  up  with  rheumatism  in  cold  weather. 
So  much  butter-making  down  cellar  is  bad  for 
her ;  but  she  won't  let  me  do  that  in  summer,  so 
I  take  care  of  her  in  winter.  I  can  see  to  things 
night  and  morning,  and  through  the  day  she  's 
quiet,  and  sits  piecing  carpet-rags  and  resting 
up  for  next  spring.  We  made  and  wove  all  the 
carpets  in  the  house,  except  the  parlor  one. 
Mrs.  Taylor  gave  us  that,  and  the  curtains,  and 
the  easy -chair.  Mother  takes  a  sight  of  comfort 
in  that." 

"  Mrs.  Taylor  is  the  lady  who  first  came  to 
board  here,  and  told  us  and  others  about  it," 
said  Emily. 

"  Yes,  and  she  's  the  kindest  lady  in  the  world  ! 
I  '11  tell  you  all  about  her  some  day,  it 's  real  inter 
esting  ;  now  I  must  see  to  my  pies,  and  get  the 
vegetables  on,"  answered  Becky,  glancing  at  the 
gay  clock  in  the  kitchen  with  an  anxious  look. 

"Then  I  won't  waste  any  more  of  your  precious 
time.  May  I  sit  in  that  pretty  place ;  or  is  it 
your  private  bower?"  asked  Emily,  as  she  dis 
mounted  from  the  wash-bench. 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       17 

"  Yes,  indeed  you  may.  That 's  mother's  rest 
ing  place  when  work  is  done.  Father  made  the 
spring  long  ago,  and  I  put  the  ferns  there.  She 
can't  go  rambling  round,  and  she  likes  pretty 
things,  so  we  fixed  it  up  for  her,  and  she  takes 
comfort  there  nights." 

Becky  bustled  off  to  the  oven  with  her  pies,  and 
Emily  roamed  away  to  the  big  barn  to  lie  on  the 
hay,  enjoying  the  view  down  the  valley,  as  she 
thought  over  what  she  had  seen  and  heard,  and 
very  naturally  contrasted  her  own  luxurious  and 
tenderly  guarded  life  with  this  other  girl's,  so  hard 
and  dull  and  narrow.  Working  all  summer  and 
teaching  all  winter  in  that  dismal  little  school- 
house,  with  no  change  but  home  cares  and 
carpet-weaving  !  It  looked  horrible  to  pleasure- 
loving  Emily,  who  led  the  happy,  care-free  life 
of  girls  of  her  class,  with  pleasures  of  all  sorts, 
and  a  future  of  still  greater  luxury,  variety,  and 
happiness,  opening  brightly  before  her. 

It  worried  her  to  think  of  any  one  being  con 
tented  with  such  a  meagre  share  of  the  good 
things  of  life,  when  she  was  unsatisfied  in  spite 
of  the  rich  store  showered  upon  her.  She  could 
not  understand  it,  and  fell  asleep  wishing 
every  one  could  be  comfortable,  —  it  was  so  an 
noying  to  see  them  grubbing  in  kitchens,  teach- 
2 


18       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  Af AIDE  Nil  A I H 

ing  in  bleak  school-In mses  among  sno vv -drifts, 
and  wearing  ugly  calico  gowns. 

A  week  or  two  of  quiet,  country  fare  and  the 
bracing  mountain  air  worked  wonders  for  the 
invalid,  and  every  one  rejoiced  to  see  the  pale 
cheeks  begin  to  grow  round  and  rosy,  the  lan 
guid  eyes  to  brighten,  and  the  feeble  girl  who 
used  to  lie  on  her  sofa  half  the  day  now  go  walk 
ing  alxmt  with  her  alpenstock,  eager  to  explore 
all  the  pretty  nooks  among  the  hills.  Her 
mother  blessed  Mrs.  Taylor  for  suggesting  this 
wholesome  place.  The  tired  "  school  inarms," 
as  Emily  called  the  three  young  women  who 
were  their  fellow-boarders,  congratulated  her  as 
well  as  themselves  on  the  daily  improvement  in 
strength  and  spirits  all  felt;  and  Becky  exulted 
in  the  marvellous  effects  of  her  native  air,  aided 
by  mother's  good  cookery  and  the  cheerful 
society  of  the  children,  whom  the  good  girl  con 
sidered  the  most  remarkable  and  lovable  young 
sters  in  the  world. 

Emily  felt  like  the  queen  of  this  little  king 
dom,  and  was  regarded  as  such  by  every  one, 
for  with  returning  health  she  lost  her  fretful 
ways,  and,  living  with  simple  people,  soon  forgot 
her  girlish  ail's  and  vanities,  tx'eoming  very  sweet 
and  friendly  with  all  about  her.  The  children 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       19 

considered  her  a  sort  of  good  fairy  who  could 
grant  wishes  witli  magical  skill,  as  various  gifts 
plainly  proved.  The  boys  were  her  devoted 
servants,  ready  to  run  errands,  "  hitch  up  "  and 
take  her  to  drive  at  any  hour,  or  listen  in  mute 
delight  when  she  sang  to  her  guitar  in  the 
summer  twilight. 

But  to  Becky  she  was  a  special  godsend  and 
comfort,  for  before  the  first  month  had  gone 
they  were  good  friends,  and  Emily  had  made  a 
discovery  which  filled  her  head  with  brilliant 
plans  for  Becky's  future,  in  spite  of  her  mother's 
warnings,  and  the  sensible  girl's  own  reluctance 
to  be  dazzled  by  enthusiastic  prophecies  and 
dreams. 

It  came  about  in  this  way.  Some  three  weeks 
after  the  two  girls  met,  Emily  went  one  evening 
to  their  favorite  try  sting-place,  —  Becky's  bower 
among  the  laurels.  It  was  a  pretty  nook  in  the 
shadow  of  a  great  gray  bowlder  near  the  head 
of  the  green  valley  which  ran  down  to  spread 
into  the  wide  intervale  below.  A  brook  went 
babbling  among  the  stones  and  grass  and  sweet- 
ferns,  while  all  the  slope  was  rosy  with  laurel- 
flowers  in  their  time,  as  the  sturdy  bushes  grew 
thickly  on  the  hill-side,  down  the  valley,  and 
among  the  woods  that  made  a  rich  background 


20       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

for  these  pink  and  white  bouquets  arranged  with 
Nature's  own  careless  grace. 

Emily  liked  this  spot,  and  ever  since  she  had 
been  strong  enough  to  reach  it,  loved  to  climb 
up  and  sit  there  with  book  and  work,  enjoying 
the  lovely  panorama  before  her.  Floating  mists 
often  gave  her  a  constant  succession  of  pretty 
pictures  ;  now  a  sunny  glimpse  of  the  distant 
lake,  then  the  church  spire  peeping  above  the 
hill,  or  a  flock  of  sheep  feeding  in  the  meadow, 
a  gay  procession  of  young  pilgrims  winding  up 
the  mountain,  or  a  black  cloud  heavy  with  a 
coming  storm,  welcome  because  of  the  glorious 
rainbow  and  its  shadow  which  would  close  the 
pageant. 

Unconsciously  the  girl  grew  to  feel  not  only 
the  beauty  but  the  value  of  these  quiet  hours, 
to  find  a  new  peace,  refreshment,  and  happiness, 
bubbling  up  in  her  heart  as  naturally  as  the 
brook  gushed  out  among  the  mossy  rocks,  and 
went  singing  away  through  hay-fields  and 
gardens,  and  by  dusty  roads,  till  it  met  the  river 
and  rolled  on  to  the  sea.  Something  dimly 
stirred  in  her,  and  the  healing  spirit  that  haunts 
such  spots  did  its  sweet  ministering  till  the 
innocent  soul  began  to  see  that  life  was  not  per 
fect  without  labor  as  well  as  love,  duty  as  well 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENIIAJR       21 

as  happiness,  and  that  true  contentment   came 
from  within,  not  from  without. 

On  the  evening  we  speak  of,  she  went  to  wait 
for  Becky,  who  would  join  her  as  soon  as  the 
after-supper  chores  were  done.  In  the  little  cave 
which  held  a  few  books,  a  dipper,  and  a  birch- 
bark  basket  for  berries,  Emily  kept  a  sketching 
block  and  a  box  of  pencils,  and  often  amused  her 
self  by  trying  to  catch  some  of  the  lovely  scenes 
before  her.  These  efforts  usually  ended  in  a 
humbler  attempt,  and  a  good  study  of  an  oak- 
tree,  a  bit  of  rock,  or  a  clump  of  ferns  was  the 
result.  This  evening  the  sunset  was  so  beauti 
ful  she  could  not  draw,  and  remembering  that 
somewhere  in  Becky's  scrap-book  there  was  a  fine 
description  of  such  an  hour  by  some  poet,  she 
pulled  out  the  shabby  old  volume,  and  began  to 
turn  over  the  leaves. 

She  had  never  cared  to  look  at  it  but  once, 
having  read  all  the  best  of  its  contents  in  more 
attractive  volumes,  so  Becky  kept  it  tucked  away 
in  tlie  farther  corner  of  her  rustic  closet,  and 
evidently  thought  it  a  safe  place  to  conceal  a  cer 
tain  little  secret  which  Emily  now  discovered. 
As  she  turned  the  stiff  pages  filled  with  all  sorts 
of  verses,  good,  bad,  and  indifferent,  a  sheet  of 
paper  appeared  on  which  was  scribbled  these 
lines  in  school-girl  handwriting :  — 


22       MOr.\TAl\-LALTHEL   AND  MAI  HEN  If  AIR 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL 

My  bonnie  flower,  with  truest  joy 

Thy  welcome  face  I  see, 
The  world  grows  brighter  to  my  eyes, 

And  summer  comes  with  thee. 
My  solitude  now  finds  a,  friend, 

And  after  each  hard  day, 
I  in  my  mountain  garden  walk, 

To  rest,  or  sing,  or  pray. 

All  down  the  rocky  slope  is  spread 

Thy  veil  of  rosy  snow, 
And  in  the  valley  by  the  brook, 

Thy  deeper  blossoms  grow. 
The  barren  wilderness  grows  fair, 

Such  beauty  dost  thou  give  ; 
And  human  eyes  and  Nature's  heart 

Rejoice  that  thou  dost  live. 

Each  year  I  wait  thy  coming,  dear, 

Each  year  I  love  thee  more, 
For  life  grows  hard,  and  much  I  need 

Thy  honey  for  my  store. 
So,  like  a  hungry  bee,  I  sip 

Sweet  lessons  from  thy  cup, 
And  sitting  at  a  flower's  feet, 

My  soul  learns  to  look  up. 

No  laurels  shall  I  ever  win, 

No  splendid  blossoms  bear, 
But  gratefully  receive  and  use 

God's  blessed  sun  and  air  ; 
And,  blooming  where  my  lot  is  cast 

Grow  happy  and  content, 
Making  some  barren  spot  more  fair, 

For  a  humble  life  well  spent. 


-    m>^      ;;i*- 

-4  •**»' 


She  wrote  it  herself  I  "  —  PAGE  23. 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       23 

"  She  wrote  it  herself !  I  can't  believe  it ! " 
said  Emily,  as  she  put  down  the  paper,  looking 
rather  startled,  for  she  did  believe  it,  and  felt 
as  if  she  had  suddenly  looked  into  a  fellow- 
creature's  heart.  "  I  thought  her  just  an  ordi 
nary  girl,  and  here  she  is  a  poet,  writing  verses 
that  make  me  want  to  cry !  I  don't  suppose 
they  are  very  good,  but  they  seem  to  come  right 
out  of  her  heart,  and  touch  me  with  the  longing 
and  the  patience  or  the  piety  in  them.  Well, 
I  am  surprised ! "  and  Emily  read  the  lines 
again,  seeing  the  faults  more  plainly  than  before, 
but  still  feeling  that  the  girl  put  herself  into 
them,  vainly  trying  to  express  what  the  wild 
flower  was  to  her  in  the  loneliness  which  comes 
to  those  who  have  a  little  spark  of  the  divine 
iire  burning  in  their  souls. 

"  Shall  I  tell  her  I  've  found  it  out  ?  I  must ! 
and  see  if  I  can't  get  her  verses  printed.  Of 
course  she  has  more  tucked  away  somewhere. 
That  is  what  she  hums  to  herself  when  she  's  at 
work,  and  won't  tell  me  about  when  I  ask.  Sly 
thing  !  to  be  so  bashful  and  hide  her  gift.  I  '11 
tease  her  a  bit  and  see  what  she  says.  Oh  dear, 
I  wish  /could  do  it !  Perhaps  she'll  be  famous 
some  day,  and  then  I  '11  have  the  glory  of  dis 
covering  her." 


24       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

With  that  consolation  Emily  turned  over  the 
pages  of  the  ledger  and  found  several  more  bits 
of  verse,  some  very  good  for  an  untaught  girl, 
others  very  faulty,  but  all  having  a  certain 
strength  of  feeling  and  simplicity  of  language 
unusual  in  the  effusions  of  young  maidens  at  the 
sentimental  age. 

Emily  had  a  girlish  admiration  for  talent  of 
any  kind,  and  being  fond  of  poetry,  was  especially 
pleased  to  find  that  her  humble  friend  possessed 
the  power  of  writing  it.  Of  course  she  exag 
gerated  Becky's  talent,  and  as  she  waited  for 
her,  felt  sure  that  she  had  discovered  a  feminine 
Burns  among  the  New  Hampshire  hills,  for  all 
the  verses  were  about  natural  and  homely  objects, 
touched  into  beauty  by  sweet  words  or  tender 
sentiment.  She  had  time  to  build  a  splendid 
castle  in  the  air  and  settle  Becky  in  it  with  a 
crown  of  glory  on  her  head,  before  the  quiet 
figure  in  a  faded  sunbonnet  came  slowly  up  the 
slope  with  the  glow  of  sunset  on  a  tired  but 
tranquil  face. 

"  Sit  here  and  have  a  good  rest,  while  I  talk 
to  you,"  said  Emily,  eager  to  act  the  somewhat 
dramatic  scene  she  had  planned.  Becky  sunk 
upon  the  red  cushion  prepared  for  her,  and  sat 
looking  down  at  the  animated  speaker,  as  Emily, 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AND  MAIDENHAIR       25 

perched  on  a  mossy  stone  before  her,  began  the 
performance. 

"  Becky,  did  you  ever  hear  of  the  Goodale 
children  ?  They  lived  in  the  country  and  wrote 
poetry  and  grew  to  be  famous." 

"  Oh  yes,  I  've  read  their  poems  and  like  'em 
very  much.  Do  you  know  'em  ? "  and  Becky 
looked  interested  at  once. 

"  No,  but  I  once  met  a  girl  who  was  something 
like  them,  only  she  didn't  have  such  an  easy 
time  as  they  did,  with  a  father  to  help,  and  a 
nice  Sky-farm,  and  good  luck  generally.  I  've 
tried  to  write  verses  myself,  but  I  always  get 
into  a  muddle,  and  give  it  up.  This  makes  me 
interested  in  other  girls  who  can  do  it,  and  I 
want  to  help  my  friend.  I  'in  sure  she  has  talent, 
and  I  VI  so  like  to  give  her  a  lift  in  some  way. 
Let  me  read  you  a  piece  of  hers  and  see  what 
you  think  of  it." 

"Do!"  and  Becky  threw  off  the  sunbonnet, 
folded  her  hands  round  her  knees,  and  composed 
herself  to  listen  with  such  perfect  unconscious 
ness  of  what  was  coming  that  Emily  both  laughed 
at  the  joke  and  blushed  at  the  liberty  she  felt 
she  was  taking  with  the  poor  girl's  carefully 
hidden  secret. 

Becky  was  sure  now  that  Emily  was  going  to 


26       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

read  something  of  her  own  after  this  artful  in 
troduction,  and  began  to  smile  as  the  paper  was 
produced  and  the  first  four  lines  read  in  a  tone 
that  was  half  timid,  half  triumphant.  Then  with 
a  cry  she  seized  and  crumpled  up  the  paper, 
exclaiming  almost  fiercely,  — 

"It's  mine!  Where  did  you  get  it?  How 
dar'.st  you  touch  it?" 

Emily  fell  upon  her  knees  with  a  face  and 
voice  so  full  of  penitence,  pleasure,  sympathy, 
and  satisfaction,  that  Becky's  wrath  was  appeased 
before  her  friend's  explanation  ended  with  these 
soothing  and  delightful  words,  — 

"That's  all,  dear,  and  I  beg  your  pardon. 
But  I  'm  sure  you  will  be  famous  if  you 
keep  on,  and  I  shall  yet  see  a  volume  of 
poems  by  Rebecca  Moore  of  Rocky  Nook,  New 
Hampshire/1 

Becky  hid  her  face  as  if  shame,  surprise, 
wonder,  and  joy  filled  her  heart  too  full  and 
made  a  few  happy  tears  drop  on  the  hands  so 
wrorn  with  hard  work,  when  they  ached  to  be 
holding  a  pen  and  trying  to  record  the  fancies 
that  sung  in  her  brain  as  ceaselessly  as  the  soft 
sough  of  the  pines  or  the  ripple  of  the  brook  mur 
mured  in  her  ear  when  she  sat  here  alone.  She 
could  not  express  the  vague  longings  that  stirred 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDEXIIAIK       27 

in  her  soul ;  she  could  only  feel  and  dimly  strive 
to  understand  and  utter  them,  with  no  thought 
of  fame  or  fortune, — for  she  was  a  humble 
creature,  and  never  knew  that  the  hardships  of 
her  life  were  pressing  out  the  virtues  of  her 
nature  as  the  tread  of  careless  feet  crush  the 
sweet  perfume  from  wild  herbs. 

Presently  she  looked  up,  deeply  touched  by 
Emily's  words  and  caresses,  and  her  blue  eyes 
shone  like  stars  as  her  face  beamed  with  some 
thing  finer  than  mere  beauty,  for  the  secrets  of 
her  innocent  heart  were  known  to  this  friend 
now,  and  it  was  very  sweet  to  accept  the  first 
draught  of  confidence  and  praise. 

"  I  don't  mind  much,  but  I  was  scared  for  a 
minute.  No  one  knows  but  Mother,  and  she 
laughs  at  me,  though  she  don't  care  if  it  makes 
me  happy.  I  'in  glad  you  like  my  scribbling, 
but  really  I  never  think  or  hope  of  being  any 
body.  I  could  n't,  you  know  !  but  it 's  real  nice 
to  have  you  say  I  might  and  to  make  believe  for 
a  little  while." 

"But  why  not,  Becky?  The  Goodale  girls 
did,  and  half  the  poets  in  the  world  were  poor, 
ignorant  people  at  first,  you  know.  It  only 
needs  time  and  help,  and  the  gift  will  grow,  and 
people  see  it;  and  then  the  glory  and  the  money 


28       MOrNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

will  come,"  cried  Emily,  quite  carried  away  by 
her  own  enthusiasm  and  good-will. 

"  Could  I  get  any  money  by  these  things  ?  " 
asked  Becky,  looking  at  the  crumpled  paper 
lying  under  a  laurel-bush. 

"  Of  course  you  could,  dear !  Let  me  have 
some  of  them,  and  I  '11  show  you  that  I  know 
good  poetry  when  I  see  it.  You  will  believe  if 
some  bank-bills  come  with  the  paper  the  verses 
appear  in,  I  hope  ?  " 

Blind  to  any  harm  she  might  do  by  exciting 
vain  hopes  in  her  eagerness  to  cheer  and  help, 
Emily  made  this  rash  proposal  in  all  good  faith, 
meaning  to  pay  for  the  verses  herself  if  no  editor 
was  found  to  accept  them. 

Becky  looked  half  bewildered  by  this  brilliant 
prospect,  and  took  a  long  breath,  as  if  some  hand 
had  lifted  a  heavy  burden  a  little  way  from  her 
weary  back,  for  stronger  than  ambition  for  her 
self  was  love  for  her  family,  and  the  thought  of 
help  for  them  was  sweeter  than  any  dream  of 
fame. 

"  Yes,  I  would  !  oh,  if  I  only  could,  I  'd  be 
the  happiest  girl  in  the  world  !  But  I  can't  be 
lieve  it,  Emily.  I  heard  Mrs.  Taylor  say  that 
only  the  very  best  poetry  paid,  and  mine  is  poor 
stuff,  I  know  well  enough." 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       29 

"  Of  course  it  needs  polishing  and  practice  and 
all  that ;  but  I  'in  sure  it  is  oceans  better  than 
half  the  sentimental  twaddle  we  see  in  the 
papers,  and  I  know  that  some  of  those  pieces  are 
paid  for,  because  I  have  a  friend  who  is  in  a 
newspaper  office,  and  he  told  me  so.  Yours  are 
quaint  and  simple  and  some  very  original.  I'm 
sure  that  ballad  of  the  old  house  is  lovely,  and  I 
want  to  send  it  to  Whittier.  Mamma  knows 
him  ;  it 's  the  sort  he  likes,  and  he  is  so  kind  to 
every  one,  he  will  criticise  it,  and  be  interested 
when  she  tells  him  about  you.  Do  let  me !  " 

"  I  never  could  in  the  world  !  It  would  be  so 
bold,  Mother  would  think  I  was  crazy.  I  love 
Mr.  Whittier,  but  I  would  n't  dar'st  to  show 
him  my  nonsense,  though  reading  his  beautiful 
poetry  helps  me  ever  so  much." 

Becky  looked  and  spoke  as  if  her  breath  had 
been  taken  away  by  this  audacious  proposal ; 
and  yet  a  sudden  delicious  hope  sprung  up  in 
her  heart  that  there  might,  perhaps,  be  a  spark 
of  real  virtue  in  the  little  fire  which  burned 
within  her,  warming  and  brightening  her  dull 
life. 

"  Let  us  ask  Mamma ;  she  will  tell  us  what 
is  best  to  do  first,  for  she  knows  all  sorts  of 
literary  people,  and  won't  say  any  more  than 


30       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

you  want  her  to.  I  'm  bent  on  having  my  way, 
Becky,  and  the  more  modest  you  are,  the  surer 
I  am  that  you  are  a  genius.  Real  geniuses 
always  are  shy  ;  so  you  just  make  up  your  mind 
to  give  me  the  best  of  your  pieces,  and  let  me 
prove  that  I  'in  right." 

It  was  impossible  to  resist  such  persuasive 
words,  and  Becky  soon  yielded  to  the  little  siren 
who  was  luring  her  out  of  her  safe,  small  pool 
into  the  deeper  water  that  looks  so  blue  and 
smooth  till  the  venturesome  paper  boats  get  into 
the  swift  eddies,  or  run  aground  upon  the  rocks 
and  sandbars. 

The  greatest  secrecy  was  to  be  preserved,  and 
no  one  but  Mrs.  Spenser  was  to  know  what 
a  momentous  enterprise  was  afoot.  The  girls  sat 
absorbed  in  their  brilliant  plans  till  it  was  nearly 
dark,  then  groped  their  way  home  hand  in  hand, 
leaving  another  secret  for  the  laurels  to  keep  and 
dream  over  through  their  long  sleep,  for  blossom 
time  was  past,  and  the  rosy  faces  turning  pale 
in  the  July  sun. 

Neither  of  the  girls  forgot  the  talk  they  had 
that  night  in  Emily's  room,  for  she  led  her  cap 
tive  straight  to  her  mother,  and  told  her  all  their 
plans  and  aspirations  without  a  moment's  delay. 

Mrs.  Spenser  much  regretted  her  daughter's 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       31 

well-meant  enthusiasm,  but  fearing  harm  might 
be  done,  very  wisely  tried  to  calm  the  innocent 
excitement  of  both  by  the  quiet  matter-of-fact 
way  in  which  she  listened  to  the  explanation 
Emily  gave  her,  read  the  verses  timidly  offered 
by  Becky,  and  then  said,  kindly  but  firmly  :  — 

"This  is  not  poetry,  my  dear  girls,  though  the 
lines  run  smoothly  enough,  and  the  sentiment  is 
sweet.  It  would  bring  neither  fame  nor  money, 
and  Rebecca  puts  more  real  truth,  beauty,  and 
poetry  into  her  dutiful  daily  life  than  in  any 
lines  she  has  written." 

"  We  had  such  a  lovely  plan  for  Becky  to  come 
to  town  with  me,  and  see  the  world,  and  write, 
and  be  famous.  How  can  you  spoil  it  all  ?  " 

"  My  foolish  little  daughter,  I  must  prevent 
you  from  spoiling  this  good  girl's  life  by  your 
rash  projects.  P>ecky  will  see  that  I  am  wise, 
though  you  do  not,  and  she  will  understand  this 
verse  from  my  favorite  poet,  and  lay  it  to 
heart :  — 

"So  near  is  grandeur  to  our  dust, 
So  nigh  is  (Jod  to  man, 
When  Duty  whispers  low,  '  Thou  must ! ' 
The  youth  replies, '  I  can  I ' " 

"  I  do !  I  will !  please  go  on,"  and  Becky's 
troubled  eyes  grew  clear  and  steadfast  as  she 


32       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   ANI>   MAIItENIIATR 

took  the  words  home  to  herself,  resolving  to 
live  up  to  them. 

"  Oh,  mother !  "  cried  Emily,  thinking  her 
very  cruel  to  nip  their  budding  hopes  in  this 
way. 

"  I  know  you  won't  believe  it  now,  nor  Ix; 
able  to  see  all  that  I  mean  perhaps,  but  time 
will  teach  you  both  to  own  that  1  am  right,  and 
to  value  the  substance  more  than  the  shadow," 
continued  Mrs.  Spenser.  '"  Many  girls  write 
verses  and  think  they  are  poets ;  but  it  is  only 
a  passing  mood,  and  fortunately  for  the  world, 
and  for  them  also,  it  soon  dies  out  in  some  more 
genuine  work  or  passion.  Very  few  have  the 
real  gift,  and  those  to  whom  it  in  given  wait 
and  work  and  slowly  reach  the  height  of  their 
powers.  Many  delude  themselves,  and  try  to 
persuade  the  world  that  they  can  sing ;  but  it 
is  waste  of  time,  and  ends  in  disappointment, 
as  the  mass  of  sentimental  rubbish  we  all  see 
plainly  proves.  Write  your  little  verses,  my 
dear,  when  the  spirit  moves,  —  it  is  a  harmless 
pleasure,  a  real  comfort,  and  a  good  lesson  for 
you  ;  but  do  not  neglect  higher  duties  or  deceive 
yourself  with  false  hopes  .and  vain  dreams. 
'  First  live,  then  write,'  is  a  good  motto  for  ambi 
tious  young  people.  A  still  tetter  for  us  all 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       33 

is,  '  Do  the  duty  that  lies  nearest ; '  and  the 
faithful  performance  of  that,  no  matter  how 
humble  it  is,  will  be  the  best  help  for  whatever 
talent  may  lie  hidden  in  us,  ready  to  bloom 
when  the  time  comes.  Remember  this,  and  do 
not  let  my  enthusiastic  girl's  well-meant  but 
unwise  prophecies  and  plans  unsettle  you,  and 
unfit  you  for  the  noble  work  you  are  doing." 

"Thank  you,  ma'am!  I  will  remember;  I 
know  you  are  right,  and  I  won't  be  upset  by 
foolish  notions.  I  never  imagined  before  that  I 
could  be  a  poet ;  but  it  sounded  so  sort  of  splen 
did,  I  thought  maybe  it  might  happen  to  me, 
by-and-by,  as  it  does  to  other  folks.  I  won't  lot 
on  it,  but  settle  right  down  and  do  my  work 
cheerful. " 

As  she  listened,  Kecky's  face  had  grown  pale 
and  serious,  even  a  little  sad ;  but  as  she  an 
swered,  her  eyes  shone,  her  lips  were  firm,  and 
her  plain  face  almost  beautiful  with  the  courage 
and  confidence  that  sprung  up  within  her.  She 
saw  the  wisdom  of  her  friend's  advice,  felt  the 
kindness  of  showing  her  the  mistake  frankly, 
and  was  grateful  for  it,  —  conscious  in  her  own 
strong,  loving  heart  that  it  was  better  to  live 
and  work  for  others  than  to  dream  and  strive, 
for  herself  alone. 


:54        MOCXTAIX-LACRKL  AXD  MAIHKX/IAIR 

Mi's.  Spenser  was  both  surprised  and  touched 
by  the  girl's  look,  words,  and  manner,  and  her 
respect  much  increased  by  the  courage  and  good 
temper  with  which  she  saw  her  lovely  castle 
in  the  air  vanish  like  smoke,  leaving  the  hard 
reality  looking  harder  than  ever,  after  this  little 
Might  into  the  fairy  regions  of  romance. 

She  talked  long  with  the  girls,  and  gave  them 
the  counsel  all  eager  young  people  need,  yet  are 
very  slow  to  accept  till  experience  teaches  them 
its  worth.  As  the  friend  of  many  successful 
literary  people,  Mrs.  Spenser  was  constantly  re 
ceiving  the  confidences  of  unfledged  scribblers, 
each  of  whom  was  sure  that  he  or  she  had  some 
thing  valuable  to  add  to  the  world's  literature. 
Her  advice  was  always  the  same,  "Work  and 
wait;"  and  only  now  and  then  was  a  young 
poet  or  author  found  enough  in  earnest  to  do 
both,  and  thereby  prove  to  themselves  and  others 
either  that  they  did  possess  power,  or  did  not, 
and  so  settle  the  question  forever.  "  First  live, 
then  write/'  proved  a  yuietus  for  many,  and 
"  Do  the  duty  that  lies  nearest"  -satisfied  the 
more  sincere  that  they  could  be  happy  with 
out  fame.  So,  thanks  to  this  wise  and  kindly 
woman,  a  large  number  of  worthy  youths  and 
maidens  ceased  dreaming  and  fell  to  work,  and 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   A\l>   MM  DEN  It  AIR       35 

the  world  was  spared  reams  of  feeble  verse  and 
third-rate  romances. 

After  that  night  Becky  spent  fewer  spare 
hours  in  her  m-st,  and  more  in  reading1  with 
Kmily,  who  lent  her  books  and  helped  her  to 
understand  them,  —  both  much  assisted  by  Mrs. 
Spenser,  who  marked  passages,  suggested  au 
thors,  and  explained  whatever  puzzled  them. 
Very  happy  bits  of  time  were  these,  and  very 
precious  to  both,  as  Emily  learned  to  see  and 
appreciate  the  humbler,  harder  side  of  life,  and 
Becky  got  delightful  glimpses  into  the  beautiful 
world  of  art,  poetry,  and  truth,  which  gave  her 
better  food  for  heart  and  brain  than  sentimental 
musings  or  blind  efforts  to  satisfy  the  hunger  of 
her  nature  with  verse-writing. 

Their  favorite  places  were  in  the  big  barn,  on 
the  front  porch,  or  by  the  spring.  This  last  was 
Kmily's  schoolroom,  and  she  both  taught  and 
learned  many  useful  lessons  there. 

One  day  as  Becky  came  to  rest  a  few  minutes 
and  shell  peas,  Emily  put  down  her  book  to 
help;  and  as  the  pods  flew,  she  said,  nodding 
toward  the  delicate  ferns  that  grew  thickly  all 
about  the  trough,  the  rock,  and  the  grassy 
bank,  — 

"  We    have   these    in  our  greenhouse,    but   I 


3fi       MOTNTAIN-LAURKL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

never  saw  them  growing  wild  before,  and  I  don't 
find  them  anywhere  up  here.  How  did  you  get 
such  beauties,  and  make  them  do  so  well  ?  " 

"Oh,  they  grow  in  nooks  on  the  mountain 
hidden  under  the  taller  ferns,  and  in  sly  corners. 
But  they  don't  grow  like  these,  and  die  soon  un 
less  transplanted  and  taken  good  care  of.  They 
always  make  me  think  of  you,  — so  graceful  and 
delicate,  and  just  fit  to  live  with  tea-roses  in  a 
hot-house,  and  go  to  halls  in  beautiful  ladies' 
(okays,"  answered  Becky,  smiling  at  her  new 
friend,  always  so  dainty,  and  still  so  delicate  in 
spite  of  the  summer's  rustication. 

"•  Thank  you  !  I  suppose  I  shall  never  l>e  very 
strong  or  able  to  do  much  ;  so  I  am  rather  like 
a  fern,  and  do  live  in  a  conservatory  all  winter, 
as  I  can't  go  out  a  great  deal.  An  idle  thing, 
Becky !  "  and  Kmily  sighed,  for  she  was  born 
frail,  and  even  her  tenderly  guarded  life  could 
not  give  her  the  vigor  of  other  girls.  But  the 
sigh  changed  to  a  smile  as  she  added,  - 

"  If  1  am  like  the  fern,  you  are  like  your  own 
laurel,  —  strong,  rosy,  and  able  to  grow  anywhere. 
I  want  to  carry  a  few  roots  home,  and  see  if  they 
won't  grow  in  my  garden.  Then  you  will  have 
me,  and  I  you.  I  only  hope  your  plant  will  d<> 
as  well  as  mine  does  here," 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR      37 

"It  won't!  ever  so  many  folks  have  taken 
roots  away,  but  they  never  thrive  in  gardens  as 
they  do  on  the  hills  where  they  belong.  So  I 
tell  'em  to  leave  the  dear  bushes  alone,  and  come 
up  here  and  enjoy  'em  in  their  own  place.  You 
might  keep  a  plant  of  it  in  your  hot-house,  and 
it  would  blow  I  dare  say  ;  but  it  would  never  be 
half  so  lovely  as  my  acres  of  them,  and  I  guess 
it  would  only  make  you  sad,  seeing  it  so  far  from 
home,  and  pale  and  pining,"  answered  Becky, 
with  her  eyes  on  the  green  slopes  where  the 
mountain-laurel  braved  the  wintry  snow,  and 
came  out  fresh  and  early  in  the  spring. 

"  Then  I  '11  let  it  alone  till  I  come  next  sum 
mer.  But  don't  you  take  any  of  the  fern  into 
the  house  in  the  cold  weather  ?  I  should  think 
it  would  grow  in  your  sunny  windows,"  said 
Emily,  pleased  by  the  fancy  that  it  resembled 
herself. 

"•  I  tried  it,  but  it  needs  a  damp  place,  and  our 
cold  nights  kill  it.  No,  it  won't  grow  in  our  old 
house  ;  but  I  cover  it  with  leaves,  and  the  little 
green  sprouts  come  up  as  hearty  as  can  be  out 
here.  The  shade,  the  spring,  the  shelter  of  the 
rock,  keep  it  alive,  you  see,  so  it 's  no  use  trying 
to  move  it." 

Both   sat   silent   for  a  few  minutes,  as  their 


38       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

hands  moved  briskly  and  they  thought  of  their 
different  lots.  An  inquisitive  ray  of  sunshine 
peeped  in  at  them,  touching  Becky's  hair  till 
it  shone  like  red  gold.  The  same  ray  dazzled 
Emily's  eyes ;  she  put  up  her  hand  to  pull  her 
hat-brim  lower,  and  touched  the  little  curls  on 
her  forehead.  This  recalled  her  pet  grievance, 
and  made  her  say  impatiently,  as  she  pushed 
the  thick  short  locks  under  her  net,  — 

'k  My  hair  is  such  a  plague  !  I  don't  know 
what  I  am  to  do  when  I  go  into  society  by-and- 
by.  This  crop  is  so  unbecoming,  and  I  can't 
match  my  hair  anywhere,  it  is  such  a  peculiar 
shade  of  golden-auburn." 

"•  It 's  a  pretty  color,  and  I  think  the  curls  much 
nicer  than  a  boughten  switch,"  said  Becky,  quite 
unconscious  that  her  own  luxuriant  locks  were 
of  the  true  Titian  red,  and  would  be  much 
admired  by  artistic  eyes. 

"•  I  don't!  1  shall  send  to  Paris  to  match  it, 
and  then  wear  a  braid  round  my  head  as  you 
do  sometimes.  I  suppose  it  will  cost  a  fortune, 
but  I  wont  have  a  strong-minded  crop.  A 
friend  of  mine  got  a  lovely  golden  switch  for 
iifty  dollars." 

"  My  patience !  do  folks  pay  like  that  for  false 
hair?"  asked  Becky,  amazed. 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       39 

"  Yes,  indeed.  White  hair  costs  a  hundred,  I 
believe,  if  it  is  long.  Why,  you  could  get  ever 
so  much  for  }rours  if  you  ever  wanted  to  sell  it. 
I  '11  take  part  of  it,  for  in  a  little  while  mine 
will  be  as  dark,  and  I  \1  like  to  wear  your  hair, 
Becky." 

"  Don't  believe  Mother  would  let  me.  She  is 
very  proud  of  our  red  heads.  If  I  ever  do  cut 
it,  you  shall  have  some.  I  may  be  haul  up  and 
glad  to  sell  it  perhaps.  My  sakes !  I  smell  the 
cake  burning  !  "  and  off  flew  Becky  to  forget  the 
chat  in  her  work. 

Emily  did  not  forget  it,  and  hoped  Becky 
would  be  tempted,  for  she  really  coveted  one  of 
the  tine  braids,  but  felt  shy  about  asking  the 
poor  girl  for  even  a  part  of  her  one  beauty. 

So  July  and  August  passed  pleasantly  and 
profitably  to  both  girls,  and  in  September  they 
were  to  part.  No  more  was  said  about  poetry ; 
and  Emily  soon  became  so  interested  in  the  busy, 
practical  life  about  her  that  her  own  high-flown 
dreams  were  quite  forgotten,  and  she  learned  to 
enjoy  the  sweet  prose  of  daily  labor. 

One  breezy  afternoon  as  she  and  her  mother 
sat  resting  from  a  stroll  on  the  way-side  bank 
among  the  golden-rod  and  asters,  they  saw  Becky 
coming  up  the  long  hill  with  a  basket  on  her 


40       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

arm.  She  walked  slowly,  as  if  lost  in  thought, 
yet  never  missed  pushing  aside  with  a  decided 
gesture  of  her  foot  every  stone  that  lay  in  her 
way.  There  were  many  in  that  rocky  path,  but 
Becky  left  it  smoother  as  she  climbed,  and 
paused  now  and  then  to  send  some  especially 
sharp  or  large  one  spinning  into  the  grassy  ditch 
beside  the  road. 

"  Is  n't  she  a  curious  girl,  Mamma  ?  so  tired 
after  her  long  walk  to  town,  yet  so  anxious  not 
to  leave  a  stone  in  the  way,"  said  Emily,  as 
they  watched  her  slow  approach. 

"A  very  interesting  one  to  me,  dear,  because 
under  that  humble  exterior  lies  a  fine,  strong 
character.  It  is  like  Becky  to  clear  her  way, 
even  up  a  dusty  hill  where  the  first  rain  will 
wash  out  many  more  stones.  Let  us  ask  her 
why  she  does  it.  I  've  observed  the  habit  before, 
and  always  meant  to  ask,"  replied  Mrs.  Spenser. 

"Here  we  are!  Come  and  rest  a  minute, 
Becky,  and  tell  us  if  you  mend  roads  as  well  as 
ever  so  many  other  things,"  called  Kmily, 
beckoning  with  a  smile,  as  the  girl  looked  up 
and  saw  them. 

"  Oh,  it 's  a  trick  of  mine ;  I  caught  it  of 
Father  when  I  was  a  little  thing,  and  do  it  with 
out  knowing  it  half  the  time,"  said  Becky, 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AND  MAIDENHAIR       41 

sinking  down  upon  a  mossy  rock,  as  if  rest  were 
welcome. 

"  Why  did  lie  do  it  ? "  asked  Emily,  who 
knew  that  her  friend  loved  to  talk  of  her 
father. 

"•  Well,  it 's  a  family  failing  I  guess,  for  his 
father  did  the  same,  only  he  began  with  his  farm 
and  let  the  roads  alone.  The  land  used  to  be 
pretty  much  all  rocks  up  here,  you  know,  and 
farmers  had  to  clear  the  ground  if  they  wanted 
crops.  It  was  a  hard  fight,  and  took  a  sight  of 
time  and  patience  to  grub  out  roots  and  blast 
rocks  and  pick  up  stones  that  seemed  to  grow 
faster  than  anything  else.  But  they  kept  on, 
and  now  see  !  " 

As  she  spoke,  Becky  pointed  proudly  to  the 
wide,  smooth  fields  lying  before  them,  newly 
shorn  of  grass  or  grain,  waving  with  corn,  or 
rich  in  garden  crops  ripening  for  winter  stores. 
Here  and  there  were  rocky  strips  unreclaimed, 
as  if  to  show  what  had  been  done  ;  and  massive 
stone  walls  surrounded  pasture,  field,  and 
garden. 

"  A  good  lesson  in  patience  and  perseverance, 
my  dear,  and  does  great  honor  to  the  men  who 
made  the  wilderness  blossom  like  the  rose,"  said 
Mrs.  Spenser. 


42       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 


"  Then  you  can't  wonder  that  they  loved  it 
and  we  want  to  keep  it.  I  guess  it  would  break 
Mother's  heart  to  sell  this  place,  and  we  are  all 
working  as  hard  as  ever  we  can  to  pay  off  the 
mortgage.  Then  we  '11  he  just  the  happiest 
family  in  New  Hampshire,"  said  Becky,  fondly 
surveying  the  old  farm-house,  the  rocky  hill, 
and  the  precious  fields  won  from  the  forest. 

"  You  never  need  fear  to  lose  it ;  we  will  see 
to  that  if  you  will  let  us,"  began  Mrs.  Spenser, 
who  was  both  a  rich  and  a  generous  woman. 

"  Oh,  thank  you  !  but  we  won't  need  help  I 
guess ;  and  if  we  should,  Mrs.  Taylor  made  us 
promise  to  come  to  her,"  cried  Becky.  "  She 
found  us  just  in  our  hardest  time,  and  wanted  to 
fix  things  then ;  but  we  are  proud  in  our  way, 
and  Mother  said  she  \1  rather  work  it  off  if  she 
could.  Then  what  did  that  dear  lady  do  but 
talk  to  the  folks  round  here,  and  show  'em  how 
a  branch  railroad  down  to  Peeksville  would  in 
crease  the  value  of  the  land,  and  how  good  this 
valley  would  IKJ  for  strawberries  and  asparagus 
and  garden  truck  if  we  could  only  get  it  to 
market.  Some  of  the  rich  men  took  up  the  plan, 
and  we  hope  it  will  be  done  this  fall.  It  will  be 
the  making  of  us,  for  our  land  is  first-rate  for 
small  crops,  and  the  children  can  help  at  that, 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       43 

and  with  a  deepot  close  by  it  would  be  such  easy 
work.  That 's  what  I  call  helping  folks  to  help 
themselves.  Won't  it  be  grand  ?  " 

Becky  looked  so  enthusiastic  that  Emily  could 
not  remain  uninterested,  though  market-gar 
dening  did  not  sound  very  romantic. 

"  I  hope  it  will  come,  and  next  year  we  shall 
see  you  all  hard  at  it.  What  a  good  woman 
Mrs.  Taylor  is  !  " 

"  Ain't  she  ?  and  the  sad  part  of  it  is,  she  can't 
do  and  enjoy  all  she  wants  to,  because  her  health 
is  so  poor.  She  was  a  country  girl,  you  know, 
and  went  to  work  in  the  city  as  waiter  in  a 
boarding-house.  A  rich  man  fell  in  love  with 
her  and  married  her,  find  she  took  care  of  him 
for  years,  and  he  left  her  all  his  money.  She 
was  quite  broken  down,  but  she  wanted  to  make 
his  name  loved  and  honored  after  his  death,  as 
he  had  n't  done  any  good  while  he  lived  ;  so  she 
gives  away  heaps,  and  is  never  tired  of  helping 
poor  folks  and  doing  all  sorts  of  grand  things  to 
make  the  world  better.  I  call  that  splendid  !  " 

"  So  do  I,  yet  it  is  only  what  you  are  doing  in 
a  small  way,  Becky,"  said  Mrs.  Spenser,  as  the 
girl  paused  out  of  breath.  "  Mrs.  Taylor  clears 
the  stones  out  of  people's  paths,  making  their 
road  easier  to  climb  than  here  lias  been,  and 


44       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AND  MAIDENHAIR 

leaving  behind  her  fruitful  fields  for  others  to 
reap.  This  is  a  better  work  than  making  verses, 
for  it  is  the  real  poetry  of  life,  and  brings  to 
those  who  give  themselves  to  it,  no  matter  in 
what  humble  ways,  something  sweeter  than  fame 
and  more  enduring  than  fortune." 

"So  it  does  !  I  see  that  now,  and  know  why 
we  love  Father  as  we  do,  and  want  to  keep 
what  he  worked  so  hard  to  give  us.  He  used  to 
say  every  stone  cleared  away  was  just  so  much 
help  to  the  boys ;  and  he  used  to  tell  me  his  plans 
as  I  trotted  after  him  round  the  farm,  helping  all 
I  could,  being  the  oldest,  and  like  him,  he  said." 

Becky  paused  with  full  eyes,  for  not  even  to 
these  good  friends  could  she  ever  tell  the  shifts 
and  struggles  in  which  she  had  bravely  borne  her 
part  during  the  long  hard  years  that  had  wrested 
the  little  homestead  from  the  stony-hearted  hills. 

The  musical  chime  of  a  distant  clock  re 
minded  her  that  supper  time  was  near,  and  she 
sprang  up  as  if  much  refreshed  by  this  pleasant 
rest  by  the  way-side.  As  she  pulled  out  her 
handkerchief,  a  little  roll  of  pale  blue  ribbon  fell 
from  her  pocket,  and  Emily  caught  it  up,  ex 
claiming  mischievously,  "  Are  you  going  to 
make  yourself  fine  next  Sunday,  when  Moses 
Pennel  calls,  Becky  ?  '' 


t       r  o  s  p  t  ix  Y    —  i  >>  o  3  • 


"Just  as  they  were  parting  lor  bed,  in  rushed  one  of  the  boys  with 


MOUNT A1N-LAUREL   AND   MAIDENHAIR.       45 

The  girl  laughed  and  blushed  as  she  said, 
carefully  folding  up  the  ribbon,  — 

"  I  'in  going  to  do  something  with  it  that  I  like 
a  sight  better  than  that.  Poor  Moses  won't 
come  any  more,  I  guess.  I  'm  not  going  to 
leave  Mother  till  the  girls  can  take  my  place, 
and  only  then  to  teach,  if  I  can  get  a  good  school 
somewhere  near." 

"  We  shall  see  ! "  and  Emily  nodded  wisely. 

"  We  shall !  "  and  Becky  nodded  decidedly, 
as  she  trudged  on  up  the  steep  hill  beside  Mrs. 
Spenser,  while  Emily  walked  slowly  behind, 
poking  every  stone  she  saw  into  the  grass,  un 
mindful  of  the  detriment  to  her  delicate  shoes, 
being  absorbed  in  a  new  and  charming  idea  of 
trying  to  follow  Mrs.  Taylor's  example  in  a 
small  way. 

A  week  later  the  last  night  came,  and  just  as 
they  were  parting  for  bed,  in  rushed  one  of  the 
boys  with  the  exciting  news  that  the  railroad 
surveyors  were  in  town,  the  folks  talking  about 
the  grand  enterprise,  and  the  fortune  of  the  place 
made  forever. 

Great  was  the  rejoicing  in  the  old  farm-house ; 
the  boys  cheered,  the  little  girls  danced,  the  two 
mothers  dropped  a  happy  tear  as  they  shook  each 
other's  hands,  and  Emily  embraced  Becky,  ten- 


46       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR 

clerly  exclaiming,  —  "  There,  you  dear  thing,  is 
a  great  stone  shoved  out  of  your  way,  and  a 
clear  road  to  fortune  at  last ;  for  I  shall  tell  all 
my  friends  to  buy  your  butter  and  eggs,  and 
fruit  and  pigs,  and  everything  you  send  to 
market  on  that  blessed  railroad." 

"  A  keg  of  our  best  winter  butter  is  going  by 
stage  express  to-morrow  anyway ;  and  when  our 
apples  come,  we  shan't  need  a  railroad  to  get  'em 
to  you,  my  darling  dear,"  answered  Becky,  hold 
ing  the  delicate  girl  in  her  arms  with  a  look  and 
gesture  half  sisterly,  half  motherly,  wholly  fond 
and  grateful. 

When  Emily  got  to  her  room,  she  found  that 
butter  and  apples  were  not  all  the  humble  sou 
venirs  offered  in  return  for  many  comfortable 
gifts  to  the  whole  family. 

On  the  table,  in  a  pretty  birch-bark  cover,  lay 
several  of  Becky's  best  poems  neatly  copied,  as 
Emily  had  expressed  a  wish  to  keep  them  ;  and 
round  the  rustic  volume,  like  a  ring  of  red  gold, 
lay  a  great  braid  of  Becky's  hair,  tied  with  the 
pale  blue  ribbon  she  had  walked  four  miles  to 
buy,  that  her  present  might  look  its  best. 

Of  course  there  were  more  embraces  and  kisses, 
and  thanks  and  loving  words,  before  Emily  at 
last  lulled  herself  to  sleep  planning  a  Christmas 


MOUNTAIN-LAUREL  AND  MAIDENHAIR       47 

box,  which  should  supply  every  wish  and  want 
of  the  entire  family  if  she  could  find  them  out. 

Next  morning  they  parted ;  but  these  were 
not  mere  summer  friends,  and  they  did  not  lose 
sight  of  one  another,  though  their  ways  lay 
far  apart.  Emily  had  found  a  new  luxury  to 
bring  more  pleasure  into  life,  a  new  medicine 
to  strengthen  soul  and  body ;  and  in  helping 
others,  she  helped  herself  wonderfully. 

Becky  went  steadily  on  her  dutiful  way,  till 
the  homestead  was  free,  the  lads  able  to  work 
the  farm  alone,  the  girls  old  enough  to  fill  her 
place,  and  the  good  mother  willing  to  rest  at  last 
among  her  children.  Then  Becky  gave  herself 
to  teaching,  —  a  noble  task,  for  which  she  was 
well  fitted,  and  in  which  she  found  both  profit 
and  pleasure,  as  she  led  her  flock  along  the 
paths  from  which  she  removed  the  stumbling- 
blocks  for  their  feet,  as  well  as  for  her  own. 
She  put  her  poetry  into  her  life,  and  made  of  it 
"  a  grand  sweet  song "  in  which  beauty  and 
duty  rhymed  so  well  that  the  country  girl  became 
a  more  useful,  beloved,  and  honored  woman 
than  if  she  had  tried  to  sing  for  fame  which 
never  satisfies. 

So  each  symbolical  plant  stood  in  its  own 
place,  and  lived  its  appointed  life.  The  delicate 


48       MOUNTAIN-LAUREL   AX/t   MM1>KMIAIR 

fern  grew  in  the  conservatory  among  tea-roses 
and  camellias,  adding  grace  to  every  bouquet  of 
which  it  formed  a  part,  whether  it  faded  in  a 
ball-room,  or  was  carefully  cherished  by  some 
poor  invalid's  bed-side,  —  a  frail  thing,  yet  with 
tenacious  roots  and  strong  stem,  nourished  by 
memories  of  the  rocky  nook  where  it  had  learned 
its  lesson  so  well.  The  mountain-laurel  clung 
to  the  bleak  hillside,  careless  of  wintry  wind  and 
snow,  as  its  sturdy  branches  spread  year  by  year, 
with  its  evergreen  leaves  for  Christmas  cheer, 
its  rosy  flowers  for  spring-time,  its  fresh  beauty 
free  to  all  as  it  clothed  the  wild  valley  with  a 
charm  that  made  a  little  poem  of  the  lovely 
spot  where  the  pines  whispered,  woodbirds  sang, 
and  the  hidden  brook  told  the  sweet  message  it 
brought  from  the  mountain-top  where  it  was 
born. 


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